Job recruiters look for people that match their clients' criteria. They do not find jobs for people. So what you need to do is make the job recruiters aware of you and your credentials, so the next time a client of theirs opens a position, you will have a chance to be matched with the client. Here are some tips you might use:
Have Internet visibility. A recruiter looks for the right people that will fit the criteria of their client, so one of their resources is the Internet. They use search engines such as Google, so if you have posted your professional information in sites like LinkedIn, then it will increase your chances of being "seen" and "found". Having a personal web log is also a plus, as long as you do not use pseudonyms, and that your contents are not offensive. You can write your background in the About Me page, and you can also add some details on what job you are looking for and in what industry. This way, recruiters can also take a peek at your personal life and probably assess your background early on.
Network all the time. You may not find recruiters yourself, but your friends or colleagues may know one. Sometimes, it will surprise you how networks work, so be at your best during company events, or job fairs. Always introduce yourself and give your full name. It is better if you hand out calling cards so you can easily be contacted.
You can also write a recruiter and attach your resume. This gives more flexibility for the recruiter to send you a reply in his own time. Calling a recruiter is okay, but for most recruiters who receive phone calls and voice mails every hour, they might not entertain your call.
Have a standard 30 second elevator pitch. You might run into a job recruiter, and when he asks you "what do you do?" or "what are you looking for?" you have to be ready to answer. When he sees that you know exactly what you want, and that you are confident, then he might just ask you for your business card. If he is not interested, he will not bother to ask for anything. So it is best to bring a business card all the time, since there are times when you have no resume in hand.
Offer to help. It is also a good strategy to offer a recruiter some help in networking, and you can ask them if it is okay for you to tell your network of professional contacts about the recruiter and possibly give them his details and the search portfolio he is currently working on. This will give the recruiter an impression that you are not just interested in getting a job for yourself, rather, you are open and willing to be of help. Most recruiters will take this positively and the probability of them getting back to you in the future will increase.
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